# Valkyries take Game 5

Sports · Heat 4.4 / 10 · 5 shows · 40m airtime

The Golden State Valkyries beat the Atlanta Dream 64-55 in Game 5 of the WNBA Finals on October 27, 2026, taking a 3-2 series lead after trailing 2-1. Kia Stokes led Golden State with 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocks, and has blocked three shots in six straight games, the first such postseason run since Lisa Leslie. Veronica Burton's four blocks tied Diana Taurasi for the most by a guard in a Finals game. Atlanta has shot 130 free throws in the Finals to Golden State's 78, a gap now central to the discussion. Reese shoots about 60% against defenders other than Stokes and about 25% against her. Game 6 is in Atlanta on Thursday.

Page: https://boilpoints.com/point/valkyries_take_game_5_1143822028

## Segments

- [The Ringer WNBA Show](https://boilpoints.com/u/theringerwnbashow), 2026-10-25, 45:05 to 50:18: **Puts a number on Reese's bench minutes**. Frames the Finals as a possession-and-hustle series rather than a star matchup, then puts a number on Reese's load: Atlanta is outscored by 18 in the minutes she sits. Also notes Nakase's Game 4 technical and that Reese has none this postseason. New angle: Atlanta has been outscored by 18 points in the minutes Angel Reese has sat in the Finals.
- [Nightcap](https://boilpoints.com/u/nightcap), 2026-10-27, 39:41 to 47:16: **Covers Golden State's Game 5 win and lead**. Covers Golden State's 64-55 Game 5 win and the 3-2 Finals lead, working through the Valkyries' lineup switch and pressure on Angel Reese, and the scoring load now on Rhyne Howard and Allisha Gray. Game 6 in Atlanta is the next step. New angle: Kia Stokes led the Valkyries with 13 points, eight rebounds and three blocks as Golden State won Game 5 64-55.
- [The Ringer WNBA Show](https://boilpoints.com/u/theringerwnbashow), 2026-10-27, 1:05 to 2:54: **Frames Stokes as the unlikely MVP favorite**. Opens the show on Stokes as the unlikely Finals MVP favorite, framing the series as a defensive rock fight. Adds that she has blocked more shots than any player in these Finals and that she averaged 5.3 points in the series before the 13-point Game 5. New angle: Stokes has blocked more shots in the Finals than any player, after averaging 5.3 points in the series.
- [The Ringer WNBA Show](https://boilpoints.com/u/theringerwnbashow), 2026-10-27, 3:30 to 7:00: **Recaps the Chase Center atmosphere**. Valkyries color analyst Morgan Ragan, at Chase Center for Game 5, calls it ugly but beautiful basketball and frames the win as the home crowd carrying a team one victory from a title. Reaction and atmosphere, no new development.
- [The Ringer WNBA Show](https://boilpoints.com/u/theringerwnbashow), 2026-10-27, 6:52 to 10:04: **Traces Stokes's path from backup to starter**. Traces Stokes's path from backup big to Finals MVP chants after Iliana Rupert's pregnancy made her a starter, and lists her prior backup-to-starter title runs with the Aces and UConn. Background and praise, staying inside the Game 5 story.
- [The Ringer WNBA Show](https://boilpoints.com/u/theringerwnbashow), 2026-10-27, 10:04 to 14:00: **Breaks down Game 5 chemistry and coaching**. Breaks down Game 5's balanced scoring and the Burton-Stokes record moment, then spends most of its time on the team's chemistry and Natalie Nakase questioning the team's heart after two losses before adjusting her communication. Stays inside the Game 5 story without adding a new development.
- [The Ringer WNBA Show](https://boilpoints.com/u/theringerwnbashow), 2026-10-27, 14:08 to 17:44: **Cites Stokes's on/off numbers as the swing**. Pulls on/off numbers for Stokes in the Finals: Golden State is plus-21 per 100 possessions with her on the floor and minus-19 with her on the bench, and the Dream shoot 19% when she is the primary defender. Frames it as the series' swing, with other Valkyries copying her approach. New angle: Golden State is plus-21 per 100 possessions with Stokes on the floor and minus-19 with her off it.
- [Yesterday in Sports](https://boilpoints.com/u/yesterdayinsports), 2026-10-27, 2:01 to 3:04: **Adds Burton's record-tying blocks in Game 5**. Recaps Game 5 and adds the defensive detail behind the win: Veronica Burton's four blocks tie Diana Taurasi for the most by a guard in a Finals game, and Game 6 moves to State Farm Arena with a 12:30 p.m. Eastern start. New angle: Veronica Burton's four blocks tie Diana Taurasi for the most by a guard in a Finals game.
- [First Take](https://boilpoints.com/u/firsttake), 2026-10-27, 22:12 to 25:37: **Adds the free-throw gap and Stokes streak**. Recaps Game 5 through the Stokes-Reese matchup and adds two figures not yet on the record: Atlanta has shot 130 free throws in the series to Golden State's 78, and Stokes has blocked three shots in six straight games, the first such postseason run since Lisa Leslie. New angle: Atlanta has shot 130 free throws in the Finals to Golden State's 78; Stokes has three blocks in six straight games, first since Lisa Leslie in a postseason.
- [First Take](https://boilpoints.com/u/firsttake), 2026-10-27, 25:46 to 30:36: **Breaks down Reese's Game 5 struggles**. Stephen A. Smith and Jhene Ogumake break down Reese's Game 5 struggles and the free-throw gap, arguing the 130-78 disparity undercuts Atlanta's officiating complaints. Ogumake adds a matchup split: Reese shoots about 60% against everyone but Kia Stokes and about 25% against her. New angle: Reese shoots about 60% against defenders other than Kia Stokes and about 25% against Stokes.
- [The Rich Eisen Show](https://boilpoints.com/u/thericheisenshow), 2026-10-27, 42:16 to 44:22: **Recaps Finals scheduling and trophy ceremony**. Recaps the Finals picture ahead of the Thursday matinee: Golden State one win from a title, the 12:30 p.m. Eastern tip, and the trophy ceremony possibly bumped to a practice court. Stays inside the scheduling debate already on the record.